Anthony Albanese says Old People’s Home for 4 year olds is the future of aged care

It started out as a television documentary but Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese believes ‘Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds’ holds the key to the future of aged care in Australia.

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Anthony Albanese says the TV show ‘Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds’ shows what the future of aged care in Australia should be.

In a major speech to be delivered today, the Opposition Leader will say many families want their elderly parents to stay at home or live with them but worry about what will happen when they are at work.

He says the solution could be drawn from last year’s documentary series where a group of Sydney aged-care and retirement-home residents came together with 11 preschoolers.

Anthony Albanese will advocate for day respite.

“The ABC program ‘Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds’ made me laugh and made me cry — but it also made me imagine a future where intergenerational care is the answer to our aged care crisis,” Mr Albanese’s speech notes say.

“Imagine a future where we co-locate aged care facilities, including day respites with kinders and preschools?

“Day respite for our elderly is a missing piece of the puzzle. For many families, they want mum or dad to stay at home or live with them, but they worry about the long days when they are at work.

A scene from Old People’s Home for 4 year olds.

“Imagine being able to drop your child and grandmother off to the same location,” Mr Albanese will say at the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane.

“Imagine knowing their day would be enjoyable and safe, with activities led by well-paid staff. The benefits of intergenerational care are immense. It can help our elderly re-engage with the world, minimise their isolation and the effects of their health issues.”

While intergenerational care is not a new idea, the social experiment that formed the basis of Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds is understood to be the first time hard evidence about the benefits was gathered in Australia. The show’s first episode said 40 per cent of older people in aged care receive no visitors; some spend up to 20 hours per day in their room.

University of Sydney professor Susan Kurrle, who was the show’s senior geriatric expert, told The Daily Telegraph there was substantial evidence of the benefits of intergenerational care.

“It’s not just a feel-good thing,” she said. “It’s magic.

“I think it’s brilliant he’s talking about it.”

Mr Albanese will say Australia should look to a Japanese model of urban planning to address the increasing levels of loneliness being experienced by elderly people.

Nancy Volpato with her granddaughters.

“As they get older, their children may have moved cities, and their social networks — which are critical to their wellbeing — aren’t always there.

“For an alternative vision, we can look to Toyama in Japan. It has adopted the principle of a compact city, eliminating the urban sprawl that is such an ingredient in isolation amongst older people.”

Grandmother to 11 Nancy Volpato said there was immense benefit in spending time with kids.

“It’s great. I love children,” the 74-year-old from Bossley Park, said yesterday after spending the day with some of her grandchildren. “I love seeing their personality. Each individual is so different.”

In his speech Mr Albanese is also set to criticise the peak welfare lobby group, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), for arguing against increasing compulsory superannuation from the current level of 9.5 per cent.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese says Old People’s Home for 4 year olds is the future of aged care